File



Feb. 12 1924.

W. HALL FILE Filed Nov. 21, 1922 IN [/5 N TOR liZZbmw Hall ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 12, 192%.

WILLIAM HALL, OF NEW? YORK, N. Y.

FILE.

Application filed November 21, 1922. Serial No. 602,363.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lViLLiAM HALL, a citizen of the United {,tates. and a resident of the city of New Yorln borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved File. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to files and particularly to letter and correspondence files and has for an object to provide an improved construction which may be readily secured to a support.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved simplified construction of paper file which may be readily collapsed or distended and which may be readily mounted in a desired place for receiving letters or other papers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a file which is provided with an accordion frame and a number of partitions together with means for holding the partitions separated and the accordion frame distended under ordinary circumstances but 211- lowing a collapsing thereof when not in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible file structure capable of being secured to the side of a desk or other support when in use and formed with handles for carrying when not in use.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file disclosing the invention. the same being shown mounted on one end of a desk and in distended condition.

Figure 2 is an end view of? the lile'shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on line 8-3, the same being on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a desk of any dc sired kind. To the end of this desk is connected the file embodying the invention, said file bein provided with what may be termed a frame consisting of the front plate or panel s, end accordion plaited members 3 and 4 and a back panel 5 to which is secured a pair of brackets 6 and 7, said brackets being formed of metal and rigidly secured to the desk 1 by suitable screws. Connected with the brackets (i and 7 in any suitable manner and also with the back wall 5 in any suitable manner, is a metal bar or plate 8 which acts as a stiffening structure for the back 5 and also as a top supporting bar to which the handle or grip 9 is secured. The front plate or panel 2 may be of any desired material and has a substantially ll-shaped metal strip 10 secured thereto at the upper edge, said metal strip having rearwardly turned ends I i 11. The strip 10 is adapted to receive the handle or grip 12 which coacts with the grip 9 as a proper handle or support when the file is collapsed.

A plurality of division members 13 of any suitable material are mounted in the body of the file and extend from one end to the other, said division members preferably being separated by a central series of partition webs 14 which are adapted to collapse or told when the file is collapsed. At each end a lazy tongs structure 15 is provided which is formed with cross bars 16 and 17,-pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of the outwardly extending flange 18 of the respective brackets 6 and 7 y and to the ends 11, said bars being pivotally connected together at 19. The respective bars 17 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the opposite ends of the bracing bar 20, which bracing bar is flat and slides Vertically in the slots 21 in the guiding brackets 22 rigidly secured in any desired manner to the front panel 2. The

lower end of the bar 16 is provided with a pin 23 adapted to slidevertically in the slot 24 and when moved to the extreme upper end of the same to shift laterally into the notch 25 in the flange 18 so that any downward pressure on the bar 10 would not 1 cause a collapsing action'ot thela zy tongs structure 15. I

When 'itis desired to collapse'the file, the grip 12 is given a null or sudden. jerk outwardlv which will cause the pin 23 to move out of the notch 25 and then drop down into the slot 24. By a push against the panel 22 the file may be collapsed after this disengagement has been made. The flange 18 is also provided with a notch 26 for accommodating part of the pin 19 when the file is collapsed. The entire file, except the metal parts iust mentioned, may be made of a good quality of paper or pasteboard or other suitable material and is preferably provided with a number of tabs 27 having the letters of the alphabet arranged thereon to permit easy and ready filing.

shown in the drawing but when it is not in use, it may be collapsed into a very small space and left attached to the desk 1 or may be removed therefrom and carried by the grips 9 and 12 in the manner of carrying an ordinary satchel.

hat I claim is l. A file of the character described, comprising a collapsible body, supporting bars connected with the body along the back upper edge and the front upper edge respectively, a pair of brackets secured to the bar connected to the back upper edge of the body, said brackets acting as means for supporting the body when in use, an end bar pivotally connected with the front top bar at each end, an end bar pivotally connected with each of said brackets and intermediate its length pivotally connected with the first-mentioned end bar, each of said brackets being provided with a slot having an offset notch at the upper end, a pin connected with each of the first-mentioned end bars for extending into said slots whereby when the pin is raised to said offset portion it will engage said offset portion and act as a bracing barfor supporting and holding distended said body, and a transverse restraining bar connected with the second mentioned end bars, and means for guiding said transverse bar in an up and down movement as the body is collapsed and distended.

2. A file of the character described, com prising a collapsible container formed with a plurality of compartments, said container being substantially rectangular, a stiffening strip of metal connected to the front upper edge of said body, a bracing bar pivotally connected at one end to each end of said stiffening bar, and means coacting with the opposite ends of said bracing bars for locking the same in an operative position whereby said body is held distended.

3. In a file of the character described, a substantially rectangular body having a plurality of compartments, means for normally holding said body distended, a bracing bar extending across the front of said body near the bottom, a pair of slotted members connected with said body for guiding said bar, and a a pair of connecting links pivotally connected with the ends of said bar and with a support.

a. In a file of the character described, a substantially rectangular collapsible body, a bracket at each end for supporting said body, each of said brackets being formed with a notch intermediate its ends, and a slot in the lower part merging into a looking recess, a pair of cross bars at each end of said body, said cross bars being con nected together at their centers by a pivotal pin, said pin fitting into said notch when the body is collapsed, the forward ends of each of said bars being connected with the front part of the body, the rear end of one of said bars being pivotally connected with said brackets and the rear end of the other bar at each end being provided with a pin fitting into said slot and adapted to move into said recess for locking the body in a distended position.

5. In a file of the character described, a collapsible substantially rectangular body, brackets for supporting said body, means connected with said brackets and with the body for normally holding the body distended, and a pair of grips connected to the front and back respectively of the body for acting as a supporting bail when carrying the file.

6. In a file of the character described, a substantially rectangular body formed with a plurality of compartments, a vertical bracket connected with said body near each end for supporting the same, and a pair of cross bracing bars at each end of the body connected respectively with said brackets and with the front part of the body for normally holding the body distended and for causing the body to collapse in a hori- Zontal direction when supported from said brackets.

WILLIAM HALL. 

